best amplifiers
- Thread starter luk71
- Start date
My favorite amplifiers for MBL 101E Mk. IIs are high-power hybrid amps. I have twice heard Aesthetix Atlas Eclipse monos driving those speakers, and I think the Atlas is a great solution.
I am sure other high-power hybrid amps (like Absolare and Lamm) would work and sound great as well, but Aesthetix offers the greatest value per dollar in this area, I believe.
I am sure other high-power hybrid amps (like Absolare and Lamm) would work and sound great as well, but Aesthetix offers the greatest value per dollar in this area, I believe.
MBL 9011 where designed to drive that speaker to perfection, the mid bass is really hard to energize with most amps. I used Krell FPB 700cx before
getting the 9011, though it was good, but 9011 are just in a different
league. Another WBF member uses 2 pairs of Symphonic Line Craft on
his 101’s. Never tried the Karan’s.
getting the 9011, though it was good, but 9011 are just in a different
league. Another WBF member uses 2 pairs of Symphonic Line Craft on
his 101’s. Never tried the Karan’s.
A single 9011 and a Krell Fpb 700cx on bass towers.
As stereo amp the 9011 only puts out 2x130 watts, but handles the 101E,s
much better than the (on paper) more powerful Krell. In stereo mode
the tone of the 9011 is sweeter than mono mode. I rarely play over 90db.
Sorry, I did't see this thread before.... The bottom line on amps for MBL is that they need to provide a lot current. Otherwise, they will sound syrupy sound or dead. I don't know about the Karan 600, but they claim to have high current capability.
My test is simple. Play Moby Dick by Led Zeppelin and Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. If the drums and canon shots are EXPLOSIVE and have great decay (no smearing), you are in business. But if it sounds like some pussy playing or like child pitter patter, move on.
Not sure if you already own the Karan, but an excellent option are the newish Class D monoblocks from the MBL Noble line.
Good Luck!
My test is simple. Play Moby Dick by Led Zeppelin and Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. If the drums and canon shots are EXPLOSIVE and have great decay (no smearing), you are in business. But if it sounds like some pussy playing or like child pitter patter, move on.
Not sure if you already own the Karan, but an excellent option are the newish Class D monoblocks from the MBL Noble line.
Good Luck!
4 amplifiers will always sound better than 2- more transparency , separation, and more explosiveness. This is especially true if you have weaker, lower current amplifiers.
However, if you listen primarily to vocals, a decently powered tube amp will do great - it’s like a stat with better bass and highs. In his review , Peter Breuninger mentioned he even tried a SET. I wouldn’t do that - Peter got lucky, but most will likely blow up their amp!
If you want explosiveness and SET - Type musicality, the symphonic line Krafts are the way to go. Krafts may be the greatest SS amplifiers ever built. They are one of the few amplifiers out there , along with CAT, that make Magico sound musical. But they aren’t marketed well, and most people never heard of them so people are experientially impoverished and think drek like Pass lands is great.
However, if you listen primarily to vocals, a decently powered tube amp will do great - it’s like a stat with better bass and highs. In his review , Peter Breuninger mentioned he even tried a SET. I wouldn’t do that - Peter got lucky, but most will likely blow up their amp!
If you want explosiveness and SET - Type musicality, the symphonic line Krafts are the way to go. Krafts may be the greatest SS amplifiers ever built. They are one of the few amplifiers out there , along with CAT, that make Magico sound musical. But they aren’t marketed well, and most people never heard of them so people are experientially impoverished and think drek like Pass lands is great.
This may explain the amp needed
what curves lol
Here in Italy there's an audiophile that drives MBL (116 for many years and later he passed to 101E mkII) with Karan KAS-600 and it's very happy with the result. Considering that he has a long experience in listening I suppose that It's almost a perfect match!
When considering amps for MBL, the first thing to consider is can the amplifier deliver GOBS of CURRENT. The Karan model you mention definitely does, looking at the specs.
Once this condition is met and the amp can actually drive the speaker to achieve its full potential, then it just becomes a matter of personal taste. Different amps will impart different sonics flavor, and some will like certain flavors better than other, as with everything else in this hobby.
So this scenario definitely makes sense
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